Generous donors and private foundations have established scholarship and endowment funds with the LACHSA Foundation in order to invest in the arts education programming at LACHSA or to provide financial support for LACHSA students who show exceptional promise and commitment. For more information about scholarships or endowments, contact Trena Pitchford at tpitchford@lachsafoundation.org.

Scholarships

Theo Hornbacher Memorial Scholarship Fund
In memory of 2018 LACHSA Visual Arts alumnus Theo Hornbacher, a new scholarship fund has been established in his name to support future Visual Arts graduates of the LA County High School for the Arts. After his studies at LACHSA, Theo attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was pursuing a BFA degree with a concentration in painting while working in the school’s Instructional Resources and Facilities Management department. Those that knew him recognized that he was a passionate and prolific artist with a unique voice and signature style, a painter with strong political views. His passing is a tragic loss for our community. Theo’s brothers are also part of the LACHSA family:  Noah Hornbacher ’20 Theatre, and Sam Hornbacher ’22, Visual Arts. Memories of his art and life can be seen on his Instagram page: @theohornbacher. To contribute to the fund, click here.
2025 Scholarship Recipient: Hawke Hoegee

Kathy Beth Kantor Memorial Fund
This fund was established in memory of photographer Kathy Beth Kantor by her father, Dr. Edward Kantor, and generously supported by relatives and friends of the Kantor family.  The interest/dividends from the endowment are used to award scholarships to student photographers to support their work in the field.
2025 Scholarship Recipients: Senior Nayeli Romero, Junior Namida Blue Olowu, and Sophomore Amber Santos

Laurie Kaman, Dr. Edward Kantor and Harriet Hochman with past Kathy Beth Kantor Memorial Scholarship recipients.

Lupe Ontiveros Memorial Scholarship in Theatre
This award was established by Josefina Lopez, LACHSA Alumnus and playwright famous for Real Women Have Curves to honor the memory of her dear friend, mentor, actress and force of nature, Lupe Ontiveros. This scholarship identifies young women in theatre who possess the qualities that Lupe championed: strength, resilience, promise, as well as an ongoing determination in their work to make a difference in the lives around them and in their communities.

Adam Schulman Memorial Scholarship Fund
This scholarship was created to honor the memory of LACHSA Alumnus Adam Schulman by his family and their friends. Scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors in the Theatre department who demonstrate integrity, honesty, initiative, originality and are recognized as role models by their peers.
2025 Scholarship Recipient: Jenna Saltzman

Tony Pope Memorial Scholarship Fund
This scholarship was established to honor the memory of Tony Pope and is a merit scholarship for students in the Cinematic Arts department.

Daryl Spencer McClellan Leadership Scholarship
This award is in memory of Daryl Spencer McClellan and was established to be awarded to a Cinematic Arts student that demonstrated exceptional leadership.
2025 Scholarship Recipient: Annelise McDaniel

Don Martin Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship is to honor Don Martin and is given to an outstanding Dance student artist demonstrating exceptional talent in the Horton technique.
2025 Scholarship Recipient: Danica Preciado

Wendy Lawson Memorial Scholarship
This award is in memory of beloved LACHSA ballet teacher Wendy Lawson and is given to an exceptional Dance student artist who excels in ballet.
2025 Scholarship Recipient: Daria Salazar

Endowments

Bobby Brooks Endowment Fund
This fund was established in memory of music agent Bobby Brooks by his wife Barbara Cane. The interest/dividends from the endowment support the Composer-in-Residence in the Music program.

Craig Charles Herst Memorial Endowment Fund
This fund was established in memory of Craig Charles Herst by his mother Terry Herst. Craig’s family and friends have generously contributed to this fund.  The interest/dividends from the endowment help to underwrite the publication of the annual Visual Arts Student Portfolio – Gift of Love.

Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson Memorial Endowment Fund
This fund was established in memory of LACHSA and LACHSA Foundation co-founder and philanthropist Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson (1918-2005). Interest/dividends from this fund are allocated by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation to be used at their discretion to offset operational costs of the LACHSA Foundation or to support arts education at LACHSA.

Gwyn Lurie Endowment Fund
This fund was established in honor of former LACHSA Foundation Trustee Gwyn Lurie. The interest from this endowment supports the general-operating expenses of the LACHSA Foundation. We are grateful for this fund that recognizes the work and dedication of the LACHSA Foundation.

Talented Students in the Arts Endowment Fund
This permanently restricted endowed fund was established in 2001 by the collaboration of the Surdna Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Talented Students in the Arts Initiative. The fund supports the artistic programming at LACHSA. The original $750,000 grant was matched with gifts over a five-year timeframe starting in 2001 from The Ahmanson Foundation, the Erich and Della Koenig Foundation, the B.C. McCabe Foundation, the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, Modern Music, the Brawerman Foundation, Laifun Chung and Ted Kotcheff, LACHSA parents, and a capstone gift from The Annenberg Foundation. Many thanks to these private foundations and philanthropists for their investment in student artists who are born to create. Since 2001, the fund has grown to over $3 million under the careful stewardship of the LACHSA Foundation and its Board of Trustees. To this day, interest from this fund invests in the conservatory arts training in the five arts disciplines at LACHSA every school year.